I just checked and I started this blog 13 years ago this month. So far I’ve done 1,307 posts with a couple actually worth reading. WordPress says I have 4,333 followers with some 25,992 comments. Well, okay, 12,032 of those are me replying to other people’s comments. My average post gets around 32 likes and six or seven comments. These aren’t get numbers by any internet blogging standard, but it’s the best blogging results I’ve ever had.
Okay, I only have one blog, so there’s not much to compare it to.
I started this blog as a way to just get into consistently writing something every week. That kind of worked, I have managed a lot of posts, but what really got me writing here was when I was when I started treatment for cancer. That just clicked something over in my brain and I wrote a lot. In time I moved on from that subject to others, including pizza — which is a more pleasant conversation than cancer treatments.
At the time I considered myself a prose writer and thought that I’d try and write a novel or short stories or something. I started working on a novel, but I’ve not finished it. A year or two after I finished my cancer treatments, I thought I’d write a book about the experience, but when I sat down to write that, it all came out as poetry. I blame the radiation — must have changed something in my brain. These days I don’t call myself a writer, but rather a poet (even though I don’t post much poetry here).
When I get to this time of year and the arrival of spring, I think about this blog, my writing practices and think about whether or not I should change anything. Maybe stop blogging, do some videos, actually work on that novel, start a new blog … lots of thoughts race through my brain. I don’t know. I might. One problem with blogging for this long is that at times I find myself rewriting the same blog post I did years ago. I didn’t look it up, but I know I’ve written this post about blogging a few times.
I know all bloggers have times when they think it might be time to stop or time to change. I follow a lot of blogs and they come and go. Some people write consistently for awhile and then just stop. A small number of blogs I follow have been going longer than mine. Some folks announce when they’re quitting and some just stop. Strangely enough, I can name three blogs that I’ve followed where the blogger has died — all of them good blogs.
This isn’t the post I sat down to write, but it’s the post that came out. I won’t make any startling announcements today, but am just saying I’m thinking about stuff.
You may hear more or less from me. You may see a video or two. I might even start a blog about theology or perhaps start a YouTube channel on making pizza.
All I really know is that it’s almost dinner time here and I have to go.
Andrew's View of the Week 
Well done! I have had a few blogs over the years but none that I have kept up with. This time around feels different somehow. So your post is an inspiration as it means people can and do keep their blogs going long term.
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I’ve done a couple of other short term blogs, but this one is the main one I’ve always used.
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wow…this is so inspiring to read. I started my blog for the exact same reason to have some consistency. It actually takes work, time and energy and I totally understand when you said you think about stuff…thanks for this post. Please keep going
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I’ll keep writing
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The good thing about this caper is that we can do as we wish. For the first 5 years or so I tried posting every day, just to prove that I could. But it doesn’t really matter. I find it rather therapeutic to blog as the urge takes me. Do as you wish and enjoy the pizza.
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That’s nice thing about blogs — we get to decide what we want to do.
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This was good example of prose, Andrew 😉 Being a numbers guy, I like how your total posts averages out to almost exactly 100/year. That’s an impressive amount of writing. As for novels, what makes me pause is creating convincing dialogue. I’m not sure I could do it, yet I know it’s essential to any good novel. It makes me think there’s value in a structured education on writing. Not that I’m going back to school anytime soon. Like you, I’ll just write about what I want, whenever I want. That’s the beauty of blogging. No rules.
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I try to do a couple of posts a week. If I followed my theoretical schedule, I’d be posting more like 150 times a year, but I never make that. and I like no rules – makes it easier for me to follow them … 😉
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I began writing a blog on a place called Lumberjocks many years ago. It became a habit and I wrote just about every day. (YIKES – Every. DAY!) For me, it turned into a kind of journal/check-in with my followers- many who became real friends that I still have today – where I just talked about the ‘artistic’ thing(s) that I did or planned to accomplish for the day. My art and work is and has been the focus of my life at this stage of my life, so it was a natural stream of consciousness that people liked to read. For myself, putting plans in words helped me follow through – especially with me being here working from home. It held me to task.
After several years, the site was under new management and things changed. I no longer felt I ‘fit’ in that venue, and stopped writing. After about 1600 posts. In thinking about it, it amazed me that I could write that much. I guess I think a lot and have a lot to say about ‘stuff’. But once I quit from there, it took years to start over on WordPress.
Now I write once a week and that is plenty. As you know, posts take a bit of time to write – especially when we provide photos, etc. I do like touching base with my followers and am slowly rebuilding them after the several years off.
I enjoy reading your posts – whatever type you choose to share. It is nice to see what you are making and writing and I love the stories behind what you do. I guess that is what ‘friendship’ is.
Whatever you choose to do as we move forward, I will be following. You are an inspiration to many, and I thoroughly enjoy your writing. Take care.
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I remember reading your posts on Lumberjocks. I was active there for awhile, but it never felt like a good fit for me.
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We go through phases in life. I’ve had my Blog nine years. Last year, I just didn’t feel like I had much to say, no purpose. Somehow I kept on. This year, I feel better. A Blog is like life, we need to keep finding a purpose, change things up. If we become too much of a creature of comfort, life gets boring. Look forward to seeing what you decide to do.
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Purpose is the biggest driver. If you have a purpose for the blog, you will. Many people stop when they no long feeling like it’s fulfilling them.
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You and I started blogging around the same time, I see! It’s good to re-evaluate every so often, especially when you’re blogging because you want to, not because it’s part of a business venture. I always enjoy your posts – I’ll look forward to whatever you choose to post. Enjoy your pizza! :-)
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If you don’t re-evaluate from time to time, you just get stuck in a rut and don’t grow. It’s good to do, even if you end up just moving the same direction.
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There’s a reason this post popped out, Andres. The line “I thought I’d write a book about the experience, but when I sat down to write that, it all came out as poetry.”–I love that.
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It’s the only way I can explain why I write poetry.
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Your blogging journey sounds somewhat like mine. I did have an earlier blog but it wasn’t serious writing, except for a few posts when I finished cancer treatment. But I began my WordPress blog 14 years ago after our last child grew up, graduated from college, and moved out to begin his career life – how dare he! 😉 I’ve always been a writer from childhood and even was paid to write when I worked for a daily newspaper for a few years. Started a novel — never finished it. Wrote a few short stories but never published them anywhere. So now, I continue to blog just to have somewhere to put all the words inside my brain. I’ve also considered ending my blog, but I always come back to it. Whatever you choose to do, we readers support you!
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I’ve thought a bit about stopping this blog and just focusing on other work, but after all this time, I find it easy to put together a blog post even when I’ve got other work going.
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I’ve been blogging for the same amount of time, and I’ve made changes over the years. Thinking about stuff is normal, in my opinion, because it’s good to change things now and then. I post poetry, short stories, photos, and sometimes, I just talk about a specific topic. What I hope to avoid is to put a reader to sleep. 🙂 Who knows if that happens, but I’ll just assume that it hasn’t for the sake of having a good Monday! LOL Have fun contemplating, Andrew! I’ve always enjoyed what you have to share!
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Thanks, I always look forward to see what you’re posting.
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Thanks too! 😊
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Having been down that road (first with disabling ME/CFS then cancer) I know how it can change anyone’s daily routine. Writers are no exception. Given my background in publishing, maximizing my audience and monetization are simply reflexes. With that as context, the two-plus decade drought between published books and articles that has just ended for me was probably one of my most creative and productive periods of writing. Most of what was created will never see the light of day. Much never was meant to do so. And that’s fine with me. The point is to write. Period! Kudos to you for doing that through all the adversity you’ve endured, Andrew. As for the direction your writing should take, go with whatever feels right for you. Just never stop writing. While we write for our audience, first and foremost we write for ourselves. If our scribbles don’t resonate for us, they likely won’t matter much to our readers either.
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I started this blog to kick start me into a regular writing cadence. I now do a fair amount of non-blog writing so it makes me think what I want to do.
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April is National Poetry Month. I may just share your compelling poetry book again!
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Someday I’ll have a new poetry book. I’m hoping for early next year.
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I’m featuring yours tomorrow! If there’s a new one early next year, I’ll cheerlead for it as well!
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🙂
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Wow, congrats on staying with it all these years and, more importantly, beating cancer!
I’ve slowed down on my blog posts this year, but I’m still at it after 11 years of blogging. But I have only a couple hundred posts.
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At one time I posted on a rigid schedule, these days I have days where I have regular features I like to do (friday wisdom, wednesday working) but only if I have something to say for that slot which is why I don’t do regular Sunday or Wednesday posts anymore.
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The way I see it, a person doesn’t need a reason for a blog (although all the advice I’ve seen says you should pick a theme or topic and stick with that, posting at regular intervals, etc. In violation of all the rules, I just write when I have something to say and I post it whenever I’ve finished it. I’m self-centered that way; I write for myself more than my readers. So you do you. For as long as you feel like doing it. As long as doing so floats your boat.
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I rarely follow the rules of blogging — it’s not why I’m here, but I do like interacting with other blogger.
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